Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi praised, on Wednesday, the efforts of the country’s Armed Forces and the successes it has achieved, according to a statement by Presidency Spokesperson Bassam Rady.

The army’s successes have been most notable in the fields of security, stability, and imposing a strategic balance in the Middle East, Rady added.

President Al-Sisi’s comments came during a meeting with Minister of Defense and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Mohamed Zaki, and Commander of the Egyptian Air Force Abbas Helmy, Daily News Egypt reported.

During the meeting, the President was briefed on several issues related to the activities and readiness of the Armed Forces’ main branches, particularly the Air Force.

President Al-Sisi was also briefed on the results of the Minister of Defense’s inspections of different military branches and meetings with his counterparts in friendly countries. Rady added that the President reviewed the results of recent joint military exercises with a number of units.

Al-Sisi directed for Egypt’s Armed Forces to remain at the highest levels of readiness “to protect the country’s national security in light of the great challenges facing the region,” according to the statement.